Even a fraction of $103.5 bln could make a big impact on the markets, but more important, Man Group’s announcement continues to solidify digital currency as being worth of Wall Street’s attention. Bitcoin in particular is finding more and more acceptance in traditional markets. Likewise, futures markets and hedge fund involvement create more on-ramps into the mainstream financial system and more ways for large but cautious investors to get involved.

Hedge funds are only open to accredited investors, that is, those whose net worth exceeds $1 mln. However, such funds have a much wider latitude to trade whatever types of assets or instruments it thinks would be profitable for its clients. Mutual funds, on the other hand, are open to regular retail investors but have greater restrictions as to how they can invest their funds.

The holy grail for retail investors would be an exchange traded fund, or ETF. A Bitcoin ETF would allow ordinary investors to easily gain exposure to Bitcoin by adding it to their brokerage or retirement accounts. Greater acceptance by Wall Street and greater liquidity on regulated futures markets, such as CME’s, will almost certainly usher in an ETF.